Veterans’ care new battleground in nursing home staffing mandate
McKnight's March 5, 2024
Two senators have introduced a bill to determine exactly what “unintended circumstances” could result for elderly veterans if a federal rule mandating staffing levels at all US nursing homes is allowed to proceed.
S. 3841 was introduced Thursday and referred to the Veterans Affairs Committee, on which co-sponsors Angus King King (I-ME) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) both serve.
The bill would require the VA to study potential risks associated with the proposed Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule — especially as they pertain to rural providers. The senators said the proposal would “unsustainably change staffing ratios at nursing homes.”
“The bill requires an assessment of the VA’s ability to continue meeting the long-term care needs of veterans at VA...